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Here is a bunch of random Isle Royale information that I have assembled. I have seen one (or more) people overlook each of these things—and then be faced with tough choices and/or unpleasant experiences during their Isle Royale trip. Please consult the official National Park Service Isle Royale website and/or the Isle Royale Official Park newspaper ("The Greenstone") for the best and most recent official information.
-- DRINKING WATER: Unless you are staying ONLY at Rock Harbor or Windigo and are ONLY drinking water from a water faucet at one of those two areas--you will need to filter or boil all of your drinking and cooking water on Isle Royale. The filter must filter out things 0.4 microns or smaller. You cannot (safely) just drink water out of a stream or lake. You cannot just chemically treat the water. The water needs to be boiled or filtered. The National Park Service and the CDC ALSO recommend treating the filtered water with chemical treatment (such as iodine tablets, bleach, or other chemical treatments) or with a UV treatment--such as a “Steripen” IN ADDITION TO FILTERING THE WATER. (Some people disagree with the need to both filter AND treat the water--but that is the official recommendation. Sometimes, inland lakes have blue-green algal blooms. This can make the water extremely toxic and such water CANNOT BE MADE SAFE by boiling, filtering, and/or treatment. -- PETS: You cannot bring your dog, cat, or other animal with you to Isle Royale. The only exception is ADA service dogs and there are extremely strict rules (and paperwork) regarding bringing them to Isle Royale. -- CELLPHONES: For all practical purposes, your cellphone will not work to make phone calls, texts, or to use the internet on Isle Royale. There are a few (usually high elevation) spots where you MIGHT catch a cellphone signal from Canada. Be prepared to pay some hefty international fees (if your phone works in those spots) and if you don't have an international servce plan. Also, if you are just hiking through one of those areas where there is a Canadian cell signal—and your phone is “on” and NOT in airplane mode—your phone might get all of your unopened texts, phone messages, and app updates (and you will have to pay huge fees). -- WiFi AVAILABILITY: There is some limited WiFi available in limited places at Rock Harbor--for overnight guests at Rock Harbor Lodge. -- CAMPING PERMITS: If you are going to be camping or using any of the camping shelters on Isle Royale, you will need to get a backcountry camping permit when you arrive on the island (or when on the Ranger III boat) — CAMPFIRES: There are VERY few places on Isle Royale where you can have a campfire. And, some of those places (where you can have a campfire) only have a “community” campfire ring that must be shared with others at the entire campground. So, you probably shouldn't plan on sitting around a campfire every night. or cooking all of your meals over a campfire — FIRES, SAWS, & AXES: You can only use dead and downed wood for campfires. You cannot cut down standing trees or tree libs--even if they are dead. They recommend using nothing thicker than three inches in diameter (about the size of a wrist). You probably won’t be using it. (And, unless you are properly trained and officially authorized to do so--you can't clear trails). So, you might as well leave that saw, ax, and hatchet at home. — FINDING WATER TO DRINK: On a map, many places along the Isle Royale trails --LOOK like they are close to places where you can stop and filter water. The truth is—you are probably separated from that water source by high rocky cliffs and/or by impenetrable underbrush—or the swampy and murky water that you find near the trail may be so nasty that your water filter will want to run away in fear. For the most part, if hiking, you should only plan on being able to filter water at established campgrounds. When you leave camp in the morning, you should probably plan on carrying enough water to last you until you reach your campground at the end of the hiking day. --PICNIC TABLES are only available at campgrounds located along Lake Superior-and not even all of the Lake Superior campgrounds have picnic tables. inland campgrounds do not have picnic tables. — TOILET PAPER: Plan on bringing your own toilet paper. READ THAT PREVIOUS SENTENCE AGAIN. Unlike years ago, in recent years--the National Park Service has stopped stocking outhouses with toilet paper. Also, it is almost unheard of to find toilet paper at an inland campground (unless someone accidentally left their paper behind). — REGARDING HAMMOCKS: There are rules and conditions regarding the use of hammocks on Isle Royale. It can sometimes be difficult to find a spot to hang your hammock that meets all of the rules. In campgrounds, hammocks may only be used within the existing impacted area of designated sites and not in the surrounding trees. Hammocks may not be hung inside shelters. Choose trees with care; many cannot support a hammock. Hammock use must not damage trees. If your party has more than one hammock—the challenge of finding suitable (and "legal") spots to hang multiple hammocks becomes even more difficult--or an impossibility. Permissible hammock locations may not always be available--so bring a tent or tarp or similar back up plan. (Note, I am often a “hammock hanger”. So, I am definitely not anti-hammock). — STAYING AT SHELTERS: Wooden camping shelters are available at ONLY SOME Isle Royale campgrounds. Wooden shelters do not exist at any inland campgrounds. Furthermore, not all campgrounds along Lake Superior have wooden camping shelters either. There is no guarantee that you will be able to get a spot in a wooden shelter--so--bring a tent, a tarp, a camping hammock--etc. Keep reading for more about shelters. — HAMMOCKS AT SHELTERS: You cannot use hammocks INSIDE the wooden shelters. — TENTS AT SHELTERS: You can set up tents INSIDE the wooden shelters. (Some people do this for extr warmth and for extra protection from wind and rain. Using nails, tacks, hooks, staples, or tape to attach things to the shelters is prohibited! --SIX PEOPLE IN A SHELTER: In theory shelters sleep six people. However, that many people in shelter can sometimes feel crowded. And, --if a strong wind is blowing rain inside of the sheter--people and gear located near the screened wall of the shelter may get wet. — SHELTERS CANNOT BE RESERVED nor can shelters be used as a spot to store your gear while you camp elsewhere at the same campground or while you camp elsewhere on the Island. — FIRST COME BASIS: Shelters are on a “FIRST COME” basis. My rule of thumb is DON’T PLAN ON GETTING A SHELTER. Be pleasantly surprised if you get one. Always bring a tent, tarp, or similar form of shelter with you. It is far more likely that you WON'T get a spot in a shelter than you WILL get a spot in a shelter. — SHARING SHELTERS: It is the National Park Service recommendation (NOT AN NPS LAW OR RULE) that you share shelters until they reach their capacity of six people. The reality is, there is NOT a lot of shelter sharing that happens at Isle Royale unless there is bad weather or similar problem. Even in those rough situations, don’t always count on someone sharing a shelter with you. People will sometimes say "NO" to sharing a shelter that they occupy--even during a big storm and even if they are alone in a shelter. Be pleasantly surprised and grateful if sthe haring of shelters happens. I tend to offer space in the shelter that I occupy--especially if the weather is poor. --SHARING OF TENT SITES: Sharing of tent sites happens often. When conditions are crowded, sharing of tent sites IS THE NORM. You are expected to share tent sites in crowded conditions. — DAILY FEES: There is a $7.00 per person--PER DAY park entrance fee. (Persons age 15 and under are exempt from this fee). Be prepared to pay the fee. You can pay the fee in advance or pay it at the park when you arrive. HOWEVER, please be advised that the National Park Service now only acccpts credit cards (and not cash). There are also Isle Royale passes and National Park Service passes that you can purchase to cover the daily fee. T — LIVING OFF OF THE LAND: DO NOT plan to “live off the land” while at Isle Royale. 1) Killing and or trapping the animals of Isle Royale is forbidden. Also, you cannot gather their eggs (nor can you try to obtain milk from the animals). 2) Do not planning on surviving on fish. You might not be lucky enough to catch any fish on a particular day--nor on your entire trip. 3) Don’t assume that you will find anywhere near enough berries to sustain you. You cannot cut or uproot any plants—other than eating berries. Thus, you cannot gather edible plants to consume. PLEASE BRING ENOUGH FOOD FOR YOUR ENTIRE TRIP (AND FOR ONE OR TWO EXTRA DAYS--IN CASE YOUR TRANSPORTATION HOME IS DELATED). — CAMPING AND HIKING AWAY FROM CAMPGROUNDS AND TRAILS: You cannot camp at any place other than the established campgrounds. UNLESS you get a special cross country permit. Those permits have strict limitations regarding where you can use them. — IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THIS: Once you get on your boat or plane (to or from Isle Royale), your backpack or luggage will be stored—and YOU WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT DURING THE TRIP TO/FROM THE ISLAND. So, you might want to have big pockets (or a small bag) in which to carry any food, water, jackets, rain gear, mediction, maps or documents that you plan to use en route to/from the island. Also, it might be a half-hour (or more) before you get reunited with your pack or luggage after you reach land. Thus, you might want to carry with you anything that you might need in your first half-hour on the island (including a wallet, park passes, any receipts you might need, rain gear, and/or any medication). --IT WILL PROBABLY BE COLD ON THE BOAT: Bring a jacket. Also, bring rain gear—just in case. Not all boats have enough indoor seating for all passengers. Also, if you are feeling seasick—you WILL be outside. (even in the rain). --SUNBURN ON BOATS: Many people get sunburned on the boats. The sun reflects off of the water and off of shiny surfaces on the boats. Nothing is worse than starting off (or ending) your isle Royale trip with a sunburn. So, if you are outside on the boats, please cover your skin with appropriate sun-blocking clothing, hats, and/or sunscreen. — LEAVE YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE AND YOUR CAMPER ON THE MAINLAND: You cannot drive a motor vehicle to Isle Royale. There are no bridges. You cannot bring your vehicle or your camper on the ferries. People have actually thought that they could bring their vehicles and campers to Isle Royale. — PLAN ON GETTING WET AND MUDDY when you are at Isle Royale—and be pleasantly surprised if that doesn’t happen. — IT CAN GET COLD ON ISLE ROYALE: It can get cold on Isle Royale—especially overnight. In ANY month—be prepared for temperatures down into the 30s (Fahrenheit). In May, June, September, and October— it can get into the 20s. The record low for October is 13 degrees. — STAY LIMITS AT CAMPGROUNDS: There are consecutive night “stay limits” at all of the campgrounds (and shelters) at Isle Royale. Probably the most important ones to note are the ONE CONSECUTIVE NIGHT STAY LIMIT at Rock Harbor Campground, Three Mile Campground, and Lane Cove Campground. (There some exceptions to that one night stay limit very early and very late in the season). TWO CONSECUTiVE NIGHT LIMITS: At Lake Desor, Chickenbone Lake, Hatchet Lake, Lake Richie, Little Todd Harbor, Feldtmann Lake, Intermediate Lake, Lake Whittlesey, Pickerel Cove, and Wood Lake. There are MANY campgrounds with a THREE CONSECUTIVE NIGHT STAY LIMIT. See the official National Park Service Isle Royale website and/or "The Greenstone" Isle Royale newspaper for the complete and latest list of stay limits. — GROUP PERMITS: If you are going to have more than six (6) people in your group —you need a GROUP CAMPING PERMIT. You need to get that permit BEFORE YOU COME TO THE ISLAND. There are very strict limits on where people can stay and how many groups can stay. Get your group permit early in order to avoid problems and issues. One note: More than 10 people are not allowed in a group. Thus, groups larger than ten people need to split into TWO totally independent groups with completely different itineraries than each other. They canno stay closer than a half-mile to each other.
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Just a word of caution: Try to not have anything important planned for IMMEDIATELY after your scheduled departure from Isle Royale. Seaplanes and boats can be delayed anywhere from a few hours up to 1-3 days because of weather. Such delays can really create a problem if you absolutely have to be at work, a wedding, a funeral, a reunion, an important meeting, etc. For this same reason, I would recommend that people bring 1-2 extra days of food, fuel, and medications. Don't count on the stores --at either end of the Island (or the restaurant in Rock Harbor)-- to have enough supplies for you. Everyone else is also going to want to use the same store and /or restaurant--and the business might run out of supplies. If the boat or plane can't pick you up--it also can't resupply the store or restaurant.
Here is some random advice for people planning an Isle Royale trip ...especially their first Isle Royale Trip:
1. Don't try to see (or do) too much in one trip. Slow down. Travel shorter distances. Relax more. Keep your eyes, ears, and other senses open and alert to noticing things. People are often so interested in covering long distances and rushing to get to the next camp (or talking to their companions)--that they often walk or paddle past many interesting things. 2. Intentionally build flexibility, options, (and a day of two with low--or no--mileage) into your plans and itinerary (even on a short trip). I have seen so many people leave almost no room in their plans for things like transportation delays in getting to the Island, or things like bad weather, poor trail conditions, illness, or injury slowing their pace. Then, when such challenges do arise (such as getting to the Island a day late or twisting an ankle), they find themselves in a very difficult situation because they allowed no room in their schedule for transportation delays or for something that might slow down their travel pace. 3. Take time to do planning and research LONG BEFORE coming to the Island. Closely read and examine the official Isle Royale National Park Service website. Read the Park newspaper ("The Greenstone") which is available online. Read some of the books and printed guides which are available. Visit online sources like this Facebook group, the official NPS Isle Royale Facebook page, the online Isle Royale Forums. I am constantly amazed at the number of people whose questions could have been answered (and/or their challenges on the Island avoided) if they had done just 30-60 minutes of solid research. (Don't forget to use the "search" function on online forums and Facebook groups. Most questions have already been answered countless times). I am seeing quite a few people proposing some fairly ambitious hiking itineraries. (Which is their right and their choice. Go for it!).
Some of them seem to have a good "backup plan" -- in case they encounter unexpected issues or delays. Others seem to be leaving themselves very little "wiggle room" for things like transportation delays, weather delays, slight injury, or illness, etc. A lack of "flexibility" in one's itinerary can be particularly problematic in situations where you are crossing the Island and/or meeting transportation (or having "food drops") at a specific place and time. Allow me to give an example: I usually build a day or two of "flexibility" into my itinerary. I achieve this by doing things like intentionally planning for easy hiking days for the first day or two of my hike---having a "zero day" somewhere in the schedule (where no hiking is planned)--and/or having a route that can be shortened if needed. In 2020, my seaplane arrived on the Island approximately 24 hours later than planned due to fog and other issues. So, I was a day behind schedule before I even set foot on the Island in 2020. Then, on day three of my hike, I encountered many hours of torrential rains and severe lightning. Thus, it was not safe to be on the lightning-exposed ridges (which are also dangerously slippery when wet). Therefore, I stopped for the day at a different campground (many miles short of my planned destination for the day). Overall, I was 1.5 to 2 days behind on my planned itinerary. If I had not intentionally built a couple days of flexibility into my schedule, I would have faced a very severe problem getting to my seaplane on time at the opposite end of the Island. It is great to have an ambitious itinerary planned. (I personally have an ambitious plan for my hike in August 2021). However, it is also good to have great flexibility built into the itinerary--in case you encounter issues that can "put you behind schedule". PLEASE NOTE: Whether you are traveling on the ferries or the seaplanes--YOU WON'T HAVE ANY ACCESS TO YOUR BACKPACK (OR LUGGAGE) DURING THE TRIP TO/FROM THE ISLAND. You also will likely not have access to it for roughly 30 or so minutes before and after your time on the ferry. SO, remember to bring a small bag or pack (or big pockets) with things you believe that you might need during that period of time. (A seaplane trip may be only 30 minutes in duration. A ferry ride can range from 1.5 to 6 hours depending on the boat and your destination. So, what you may want to bring with you will vary).
Some things I have been known to bring (at various times--depending on the trip and mode of transportation) include: -- A jacket or fleece of some kind to wear on the boat. It is usually COLD when traveling on Lake Superior--even in warm months. Sometimes, I will bring my wool cap on the boat--if I think it will be particularly cold. I usually bring a hat with a brim with me on the boats--because the sun bouncing off the water can give a sunburn. --I bring rain gear of some kind. It might be sunny when you depart--but raining when you reach your destination. There are few things worse than standing on a dock for 30 minutes in the rain--waiting for them to unload your backpack or luggage--and your rain gear is in the backpack. Also, on the ferries, you may WISH to be out on the deck of the boat--or you may NEED to be out on the deck of the boat for a reason like seasickness. If it is raining (or if the waves are spraying you on the boat deck) it is sometimes nice to have rain gear for such a situation. -- Any money, credit card, ID, park pass, or other things that you think that you might need in order to board the boat or plane or when getting your permits. Sometimes there are small purchases that you can make on the ferry. Also, some people pay their park fees or buy their park pass when they arrive at the Island. (The daily park fee is $7 per day--or having the appropriate park pass). You may want/need your boat/plane tickets or reservation paperwork. [2022 Update: The National Part Service only accepts CREDIT CARDS and not cash.] --Any medications that you might need during your trip to/from the Island. My seasick medication always comes with me. If I am on any prescription medications--and if I may need a dose during the trip to/from the Island-- I bring those doses with me in a small ziplock bag. --If I have any reason to suspect that I will want to view my map or guidebook during the voyage--I bring it. I bring a copy of my itinerary--either on a piece of paper or in my head--for when I get my permit. -- If I think I will be hungry during the voyage (or if I will be traveling during mealtime), I bring something to eat or snack on. --Camera or cellphone--if I think I will want to take photos. --Sunglasses (if they are something you routinely choose to wear). The sun can be bright bouncing off of Lake Superior. --If you have a long voyage and plan on playing a game or reading a book or magazine to pass the time--bring those things. --Particularly on the Ranger III--there may be an opportunity to charge an electronic device--if an outlet is available. --I sometimes bring sunblock--or sometimes apply it before boarding the boat. This is particularly true if I am traveling on the Voyager II for five hours going around to the other side of the Island. Being outdoors on the deck of the shiny (reflective) aluminum Voyager II for five hours--while it is sailing on the shiny (and reflective) Lake Superior on a sunny day--is a great way to get a sunburn. --Some people bring something on which to listen to music or podcasts during their voyage If that is your desire, bring that device and your earbuds or headphones. Everyone's list of items to bring for use during their trip to/from the Island will vary--depending upon their situation and their personal preference. However, perhaps this list (and any items that people place in the comments section) will give you some ideas to consider when making your own choices. People have been debating about the "best" way to acquire drinking water (i.e. do you just filter the water or--do you follow the one, true and correct answer-- --ALWAYS filter AND treat the water ).
HOWEVER, what is being missed in the entire discussion are the two biggest causes of many illnesses and infections in the wilderness-- POOR OUTDOOR HYGIENE and POOR WATER HANDLING PRACTICES. How often do you wash and/or sanitize your hands on a hiking and camping trip? Think of all of the (potentially contaminated) surfaces that your hands come into contact with throughout the course of a typical day on Isle Royale. Then, with those dirty hands, we cook food, handle our cooking and eating utensils, handle our water containers and filters. We reach into a bag of trail mix with a dirty hand and bring that dirty hand right to our mouth. We touch many surfaces in the outhouses. We all touch the shared door handle on the outhouse (after wiping our body areas that contain fecal matter). We are touching the ground often. (Who knows what lurks in the soil and what the animals may have done in that exact spot). So, wash and/or sanitize your hands often. Then, when it comes to filtering, treating, and handling water--I have seen so many people make "mistakes" that could potentially put them and their drinking water at risk for contamination. 1) They touch their filters, water containers, container lids/caps, with their very dirty hands. 2) They make very little effort to keep their "clean" and "dirty" water items separate. Examples: With a pump-type of filter--people will often stuff the intake and outflow hoses right next to each other in the same carrying bag--with no effort to keep the two separated. The intake hose (that had been submerged in the "dirty" water source just moments ago)--is now stuffed in the bag with the clean hose--getting that dirty water (and bacteria, viruses etc.) all over the "clean" water hoses. 3) People mix and match their clean and dirty water containers. A container that held dirty (unfiltered and untreated) water earlier today--might now be holding the "clean" water. 4) With Sawyer filters and gravity filters--people sometimes let the dirty water (often found on the outside of a container or filter) drip into the "clean" water during the filtering process. 5) When filtering water alongside a lake or stream--they will let their "clean" stuff sit in potentially wet and contaminated areas on the shore. 6) I have seen people "rinse out" their clean water containers with unfiltered lake or stream water. 7) They rarely--if ever--clean things like their water bottles or the lids or caps to their water containers Imagine what sort of "stuff" might be growing on (or in) a water bottle by the end of a typical Isle Royale trip. Again--poor outdoor hygiene and poor water handling practices will probably put you at greater risk of illness than having the "wrong" micron size on your water filter. If the National Park Service (NPS) told us that a certain trail was dangerous and was closed--most of us would heed the warning and stay off of that trail--even if we had hiked that same trail safely many times before.
If the NPS said there was a severe fire danger and campfires were not allowed on Isle Royale--most people would not build a fire---even if they had safely built many previous fires on Isle Royale. If the NPS told us that a certain water source had dried up--most of us would either carry more water or avoid that area--even if we had successfully obtained water from that same water source on many previous occasions. THE NPS NOW OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDS THAT PEOPLE BOTH FILTER AND CHEMICALLY TREAT ALL DRINKING WATER FROM LAKES, PONDS, AND STREAMS WHEN ON ISLE ROYALE. When the subject of BOTH filtering and chemically treating water comes up, many people second-guess the official NPS recommendation and say that there is no need to BOTH filter and chemically treat the water. (Well, the NPS apparently disagrees and says that there IS a need to do both--and that is the NPS official recommendation). What you did regarding drinking water last year, or in 2012 or in the 1980s isn't really pertinent. The official NPS recommendation --FOR 2020--is to BOTH filter and treat all drinking water. FYI: Roughly a decade ago--the official recommendation from Park Rangers (and in the Greenstone newspaper) was to BOTH filter and treat your drinking water. So, this is really nothing new. AN ISLE ROYALE TIP:
I take lots of photos of the SIGNS on Isle Royale. I take photos of mile signs and trail intersection signs, portage signs, campground signs, photos of the particular number of the campsite or shelter that I used, etc. When I get home (and especially years later) the pictures of the signs help me remember where I had traveled on Isle Royale on that particular trip--and where I stayed. Also, it helps me remember WHERE I took various photos on the trip. EXAMPLE: If some photos appear sequentially BETWEEN my photos for the signs for Rock Harbor and Three Mile--it helps me know that the scene was shot between those two points. I take photos of campground signs both when I ARRIVE and when I DEPART. It lets me remember which photos I took between the time I arrived at that camp and when I departed. Also, because digital photos have a date and time stamp stored in the digital data---I also know special things like WHEN I arrived and departed certain places and how long it took me to hike between those places. I would invite you to take lots of photos of signs--especially if you are using your cellphone or a traditional digital camera. |
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Jon Prain ("The Isle Royale Guy") has made 18 trips to Isle Royale. He shares his insights and opinions in this blog. Archives
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